It could be a very happy day for the Yankees

New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman is going to have to do his best to suppress a smile when the MLB finally penalizes Alex Rodriguez.(Photo: William Perlman, The Star Ledger via USA TODAY Sports)

Today’s big winner: The New York YankeesThey might be in fourth place, but you can bet the Yankees front office will be partying as if they won the pennant when MLB finally announces a suspension for Alex Rodriguez in the next day or two.

As USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale reported Wednesday, commissioner Bud Selig “is prepared to levy a lifetime suspension” on the Yankees’ third baseman for his alleged involvement with performance-enhancing drugs and the Biogenesis clinic in Miami.

They ought to cover Brian Cashman’s office in plastic and spray champagne all over it if they do.

If a permanent ban comes down on the 38-year-old slugger, it would effectively amnesty the remaining four years and $86 million left on the excessive $275 million deal the team gave Rodriguez after the 2007 season.

Punishment?

The Yankees should retire Bud Selig’s number in Monument Park if they’re suddenly free of an immense obligation to a player who hasn’t been close to his former self since 2010.

Rival managers are already griping the team’s potential advantage from such a decision.

“If Bud lets them get away with that, they’re under the luxury tax,” Baltimore Orioles skipper Buck Showalter told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday. “If they can reset, they can spend again and I guarantee you in two years Matt Wieters is in New York.”

Even if Rodriguez and MLB avoid a lifetime ban, a 2014 suspension would put the Yankees under the luxury tax next season, allowing them to spend money like they’re, well, the Yankees again.

Cashman made headlines earlier this summer for telling a reporter that “Alex should just shut the [expletive] up.” You can imagine how excited he’s going to be if MLB tells Rodriguez to go the [expletive] away for good.

Michael Vick: The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was a much more understanding man than his teammate Riley Cooper probably deserved after footage of the wide receiver uttering a racial slur surfaced Wednesday. Marcus Vick, not so much.

Georgia Poole: The 99-year-old Redskins fan got to hang out with Robert Griffin III at training camp yesterday. Not a bad early 100th birthday present for Poole, who hits the century mark in two weeks.

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